WSPC12730

• File Number: 8282.600.40
• Description: Colorado River AOP Status Report
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Colorado River Reservoir Operations Status Reports Partial Part 1 2003, with staff comment
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Data

will be modified in the same manor so as to maintain a steady flow in the canyon below the
diversion tunnel.

The last meeting of the' "Aspinall Unit Working Group" was held on Wednesday, January 15,2003
at 12:30 PM in Montrose, Colorado. At this meeting, review of last summer and fall reservoir
operations, and plans for this winter and spring 2003 operations were discussed. These meetings are
open forum discussions on the Aspinall Unit reservoir operations with many interested groups
participating. Anyone needing further information about these meetings should contact Dan
Crabtree in the Grand Junction Area Office at [phone].

NA V AJO - Beleases from Navajo Reservoir are currently set at 350 cfg. This low flow is being
made for water conservation purposes in response to the current extreme drought conditions. These
low flows are possible due to flows in the San Juan River endangered fish critical habitat area
(Farmington to Lake Powell) being above the minimum level of 500 cfs. The San Juan River Basin
Recovery Implementation Program flow recommendations call for an average weekly flow of
between 500 cfs and 1,000 cfs in this reach of the river. Also, Reclamation has reached an.
understanding with the San Juan FJyfishin~ Federation to aIlow us to go below 500 cfs on releases
from Navajo Reservoir during the current drought

Inflows into Navajo Reservoir continue to be extremely low. The current reservoir inflow is
averaging about 100 cfs. Last month's unregulated inflow for January was 12,400 acre-feet, or 55
percent of average. Based on current conditions and the assumption of less than average inflows
through Jul 2003, there will be . ak releases in 2003. The current release of 350 cfs will
continue. throu e en 0 March in order to conserve storage. Presently, the reservoir water
surface elevation is 6008.63 feet, which corresponds to a storage content of about 810,000 acre-feet.
The monthly precipitation average in the basin above Bluff was 20 percent of normal for January.
The basinwide snowpack on February 10, was 56 percent of normal for the Animas River Basin, and
54 percent of normal for the upper San Juan River Basin.

On February 5, 2003, the National Weather Service's River Forecast Center issued an inflow forecast
for Navajo Reservoir for April through July runoff period. This forecast is projecting a volume
inflow to the reservoir of 425,000 acre-feet. This represents a 55 percent of average runoff for this
time period.

A public meeting on Navajo Reservoir operations was held on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 1:00
PM in Farmington, New Mexico. At this meeting, review of last summer and fall reservoir
operations, and plana for this winter and spring 2003 operations were discussed. These are open
forum discussions on the operation of Navajo Reservoir with many interested groups participating.
Anyone interested in the general operation of the reservoir is encouraged to attend Please contact
Pat Page in Reclamation's Durango~ Colorado Office at [phone] for information about these
meetings or the daily operation of Navajo Reservoir.

Glen Canyon Dam . Loke PoweU

Experimental releases from Glen Canyon Dam began on January 1,2003. Daily high fluctuating
releases from Glen Canyon Dam are being implemented from January through March 2003 to reduce
~pawning and recruitment of non-native fish. Releases will range between a high of 20,000 cubic